Parents’ Guide to Solano Avenue

10 Places to Play with Kids on Solano Avenue

Solano Avenue is totally walkable and perfect for strolling around with kiddos, popping into shops, and trying out amazing food from around the globe. It’s no wonder so many local families say Solano Avenue is one of their favorite parts of living here.

Upper Solano

1. The Oaks Climbing: This Touchstone climbing gym offers so many options for families, including kids’ camps, classes, and teams.
2. Pegasus Books: A new & used bookstore with a kids’ section where you can sit and read.
3. Tutu School of Berkeley – Ballet classes for the very young. So adorable.
4. Beadazzled: A bead and jewelry shop that also offers fun classes for kids. Oh, and they do ear piercing for a reasonable price.

Lower Solano

5. Solano-Peralta Park: A cute little park across the street from 7-Eleven. Grab a slushie and hang out.
6. Toy Go Round: A community treasure with gently-used baby items, construction toys, ride-ons, train tracks, books, doll clothes, and board games for about 60% of retail prices. Ask to open the package to check for all the pieces.
7. The Exercise Yard: Find some fun logs to balance on, exercise equipment, and seating for snack time. The perfect pit stop during a scooter adventure along the Ohlone Greenway.
8. Five Little Monkeys: A fabulous independent toy store with such a great selection and gift wrapping!. (Bonus: a clean bathroom for customers!)
9. Cornell School: The schoolyard on Talbot Ave is a perfect place to ride scooters or bikes around during the weekend. We also enjoy epic family handball games there.
10. The Albany Y: Lots of great kids’ activities, including after-school options and sports (offerings and classes often change; call to confirm).

Tasty Places to Eat with Kids on Solano Ave

Quick Eats or Grab & Go

• Upper Solano
  • Noah’s Bagels: At the top of Solano, grab a half dozen bagels or a sandwich for a park playdate. (Editor: Bagel snobs, most kids will happily enjoy their bagel here.)
  • Andronico’s: Find a full deli counter and many ready-to-eat items for an outdoor lunch at a nearby park.
  • Peet’s: Hot cocoa and some nibbles, outdoor seating. Right where Solano is crossed by Colusa Ave.
• Lower Solano
  • Squabisch Pretzels: Just down from Barney’s, this fun pretzel bakery is a favorite with salt-loving kids with savory and sweet handheld options.
  • Oori Triangles: When there’s sticky rice and food as a shape, toddlers will be willing. We love how easy it is!
  • iSlice: A small pizza spot ideal for a quick slice.
  • Picnic Rotisserie: Not sure what to make for dinner? Our family loves to create a sample dinner of Picnic’s amazing homemade sausages & Edith’s Pie for dessert.

Sweet Treats

• Upper Solano
  • Lavender Bakery & Cafe: At the intersection of Colusa, there’s a European-inspired cafe with beautiful pastries and tasty coffee.
  • iScream: Artisan and fresh ice cream with the most delicious cones. Malted chocolate is a fave of ours.
  • The Xocolate Bar: The aroma is worth the visit to this local chocolate shop. Push a stroller here and reward yourself with the drinking chocolate.
• Lower Solano
  • Suzette Crepe Cafe: A super casual cafe with crepes, both savory and sweet, combining whatever ingredients you want.
  • As You Wish: The best after-school treat, this self-serve frozen yogurt spot charges by weight. Outdoor seating at the cute little parklet (grab your coffee at Hal’s Office Coffee while the kids enjoy their fro-yo).
  • Starter Bakery: A brand new outpost of this local favorite is now open on Lower Salano near the Post Office. The pastries and hot cocoa are so good.
  • Tay Tah Cafe: Find tapioca drinks, Mitchell’s ice cream, and tasty smoothies. Limited outdoor seating.
  • Mr. Dewie’s Cashew Creamery: Not just for those steering clear of dairy. Founded by a local Berkeley brother team who know their ice cream.

Pro Tip: Pop over to Thousand Oaks Elementary, half a block from Solano along Colusa, to use their playground during the weekend or summer hours with your snacks.

Sit Down Food for Families on Solano

Many of the restaurants have a kids’ menu. Here are the ones we visit all the time!

• Upper Solano
  • Cactus Taqueria: For lunchtime, Cactus Taqueria is an excellent choice with inexpensive kid-sized portions, chips, and plenty of chips.
  • Zachary’s Pizza: A much-loved Chicago-style pizza restaurant located near the top of Solano.
• Lower and Middle Solano
  • Barney’s Burgers: Halfway down the strip, Barney’s Burgers can be customized with pretty much any topping, any meat, or no topping, and in the case of my kids, no meat. (This is known as a grilled cheese sandwich.)
  • Solano Junction: A casual, family-friendly coffee shop that makes great pancakes and egg dishes. (Organic! And free-range!)
  • Duo Grill House: The sweet potato fries are not to be missed.
  • Bowl’d Korean Rice Bar:  Lots of parents and kids like this spot, and they offer a fun, kid-friendly plate.
  • Kitava Kitchen: Another newer addition to Lower Solano, they offer healthy but tasty bowls. Kids night on Tuesday; one free small plate for kids under 12.
  • Little Star Pizza: Another favorite, somewhat fancier option for deep-dish pizza at Lower Solano with a lovely outdoor seating area.
  • Cafe Raj: This family business has been cooking up curries in this spot for many years. Introduce your kids to Indian food early!

Bonus food tip: Parents on a date with a baby in tow might enjoy some tasty tacos and beer at 5 Tacos And Beers. Order a side of avocado for the babe or guacamole if she likes a little flavor.

99 Kid-friendly Restaurants in the East Bay>>

Shops & Services for Families on Solano Ave.

We mentioned the fantastic toy stores above in places to play, but there are a sooo many more independent shops and helpful services to know about for families. Here are a few:

• Snippety Crickets: Haircut salon dedicated to toddlers and children.
• Stone Room: For your rock-collecting kids, find tons of beautiful treasures.
• Flowerland Nursery: Just across from Toy Go Round. A plant nursery, but also a hip destination with vast plant selection, a well-curated gift shop, and an on-site tricked-out Airstream selling Highwire coffee.
• Coyote Kids Clothing: We love a good deal and cute clothes, so of course, Coyote Kids is a favorite stop for us.  My 7-year-old found the most fabulous cheetah mittens for $5 the other day. Score!
• Albany Library: On Marin Ave at Masonic, find the main branch of the Albany Library for wonderful free events for babies to teens. 1247 Marin Ave, Albany.
• Bay Area Brain Spa: Designed as a wellness spa for your brain with brain training, neurofeedback, bio-hacking, and contactless massage.
• Mathnasium: Local franchise of a math tutoring facility for both enrichment and remediation.

Annual Events Kids Love on Solano Ave.

With its culturally rich collection of businesses and open-air charm, Solano Avenue delivers an inviting, one-of-a-kind atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. Come feel the friendly spirit, explore the local flavor, and join the fun by attending one of the many community events.

• Lunar New Year: February brings two hours of traditional entertainment with martial arts and dance performances.
• Seasonal celebrations show off what makes Solano Ave a wonderful place in Spring, Summer, and Winter
• Solano Avenue Stroll: A free street festival in September closes the street to traffic and opens it up to community fun, music, shopping, food, and surprises.
• Halloween includes a costume contest and trick-or-treating from participating shops.
• Santa on Solano: December weekends welcome the red one to Upper Solano for free photos.
• Find the details on Solano Avenue Happenings >